The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-26
GRANT AND LEE.
pReLimINARIeS OF THE MEETING At
APPoMATTox COURT HOUSE.

Greeting to Phil Sberidan--cen. Lee
Under the Apple Tree-The Meeting at
McLean's House.
Mounting his horse again, Gen. Grant rode
on at a trot towards Appomattox court
house When five or six miles from town
Col Newhall Sheridans adjutant general,
came riding up from the direction OF Apo
mattox and handed the general communi-
cation This proved 10 be duplicate OF the
letter from Lee which Lieut.. Pease had
brought in from Meade's lines. Lee was so
closely pressed that he was anxious 10 com
municate with Grant by the most direct
means. and rs he could not tell with which
column Grant was moving, he sent in one
COPY OF his letter on Meades front and one
on Sheridans. Col. Newhall joined our
marty. and after a few minutes halt b read
tho letter. We continued our ride towards
Appomattox On the march had asked the
General several times how he felt To the
same question now he said "The pain in
nv head seemed % leave me the moment /
got Lees letter
The road was filed with men, animals and
wagons. and to avoid these and shorten the
distance. we turned slightly 10 the right and
began to "cut across LOTS" but before going
far we spied men conspicuous in gray, and IL
was seen shat we were moving towards the
enemy's left flank and that short ride
further would take US into his lines. IL looked
for a moment as ii a very awkward condi-
ton Of things might possibly arise, and
Grant become a prisoner in Lees lines in
stead of Lee In his Such circumstance
would have given rise 20 an important cross
entry I'M the system Of campaign bookkeep-
inc There was only one remedy-to retrace
our steps and strike the right road, which
wa, done without serious discussion About
O'Clock rho little village of Appomattox
Court House with its half dozen houses came
i'm sight. and soon we were entering its single
street 10 is situated on some rising ground,
and beyond the country slopes down into
broad valley The enemy was seen with bis
column, and wagon trains covering the low
ground our cavalry, the Fifth corps, and
mart of Onl's command were occupying the
! high ground 20 the south and west of the
enemy. heading him of completely
GREETING PHIL SHERIDAN.
Geu.. sheridan and Ord, with group Of
officers around them, were seen in the road,
and as our party came up Gen. Grant said
Glow are you, Sheridan
First rate. thank you, how are youf
cried sheridan. with voice and look that
seemed 90 indicate that on his part me was
having things an his own way.
.is Zee over theref asked Gen. Grant
pointing mp the street, having heard "a ru-
NOR that lee was i'm that vicinity
YES. bee is in that brick house. answered
Sheridan
"Wcll then. We'll go over, said Grant
The general n chief now rode ou. accom-
panied bv sheridan. Ord and some others.
and soon Col Babcooks orderly was .een Sit
tinr ON his horse boz the street DO front of
two story brick house, better in appearance
than tine rest of the houses He sold Gen.
L.. and col Babcock had gone into this
house short time before. and Boz
was ordered 90 post himself in the
street and keep a lookout for Gen
Grant. So as 20 let him know
where Gen. Lee was. Babcock told noe after
ward that in carrying Gen Grants last letter
he passed Through the enemy lines and
found Gem lee little moro than bali "a milo
beyond App0mattox Court House He was
living down los the roadside OF a blanket,
which mad b..n spread over "a feW fence rails
on the ground under an apple tree which Was
part of an orchard This circumstance fur
nislol the only ground FOR the widespread re-
port that the surrender occurred under an
apple tree Babcock disnaOunted upon com
ing near. and as he approached On foot Zee
sat uu.with his feet hanging over the road-id e
enhauIlmeat Tie Wheels of the wagons in
passing along the road bad cufaWay the earth
of this ombaulment and leit the roots NJ the
tree projecting Ieesf were par'Iyr~ting
OH ti... root. One of his staff officers come
forward took the dispatch which bahcoek
handed him and gave it o. Cen Leo. After
reading 10 the general rose and ~iId le would
ride forward on the road ol which lalcock
had come. hut was apprehensiro That hostile
tle. might begin in The meantime upon thc
termination of the temporary truce. and asked
Babcock fo write lime % Meade informing
him of Oh. situation Babc0ck wrote accord
iuelv requesting Meade % maintain the
truce until positive orders from Gen Grant
could De- received.
HUNTING A HOUSE
To save time 10 vas arranged that Union
officer. accompanied by one of Lees officers,
should carry this letter through the enemy's
lines This route made the distance 10 Meade
nearly ten miles shorter than by the round
about way Of tine Union lines. Ice uow
mounted bis horse and directed Col Charles
Marshall DIS military secretary, To- accom-
pauy him They started Tor Appomattox
court house iu company with Babcock and
followed by "a mounted orderly When the
party reached the village they met one of los
residents. named Wilbur Mclean, who was
told that Gen Lee wanted 20 occupy Il cone
veuicut room in some house in the town.
Mciea usnered them into the sitting room
OF one ot the first houses he came to, but
upon boxing about and finding IL quite small
and mraeerly furnished. Lee proposed finding
something more connections and better fitted
for the occasion. Mclean then conducted
the party to- his own house, about the best one
In thetown, where they awaited Gen Grants
arrival
The house had comfortable wooden
porch with seven steps lending up 90 b.. A
BAN ram through the middle from front 20
back. and ou each side was room having
two windows, one in front and ONE i'm rear
Each room had two doors opening into the